I Believe

The song *I Believe* by Tears for Fears, released in 1985, emerges as a reinterpretation of an existing theme, but with a renewed energy that positioned it as an important single. This version, included on the album *Songs from the Big Chair*, is distinguished by its approach, described as a "soulful re-recording". The piece was written by Roland Orzabal, who also dedicated the song to Robert Wyatt in the album notes. This dedication included the phrase "(If he's listening)", a direct reference to "Dedicated to You but You Weren't Listening", a song by Soft Machine, Wyatt's former band. As a complement, the B-side of this single included a version of "Sea Song", another of Wyatt's tracks. During the recording of this new version, a shout of "William!" was added just before a saxophone solo, directed at Will Gregory, the saxophonist who accompanied the band at the time and who also appears in the music video.

The single *I Believe* was well-received on the charts, reaching number 23 in the UK, which marked Tears for Fears' ninth Top 40 hit. It also placed in the top ten in Ireland and reached number 28 in New Zealand. The recording of this version took place in 1985, with David Bascombe as recording engineer and mixing handled by Steven Wilson, under the production of Chris Hughes. The album *Songs from the Big Chair*, of which it is a part, released in February 1985, marked a shift in the band's sound, moving away from the introspective style of their debut to adopt a more accessible and polished approach, with diverse influences and a more prominent use of guitar. This album became the band's most successful to date, reaching number one in the United States and number two in the UK.